Providence Police Release Identities From Weekend Murder-Suicide

PROVIDENCE, RI — Providence police have identified the woman killed by her estranged husband on Charles Street over the weekend, as well as her estranged husband, who later killed himself. The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence said the killing of Berta Hudson, 48, by Oscar Hudson, 50, "show[ed] the abuser’s complete disregard for anyone else’s safety."

On Saturday afternoon, Oscar fatally shot and killed Berta, his estranged wife, on Charles Street, before later killing himself.

Tonya Harris, the coalition's executive director, said in a statement that "the community has lost a woman whose life was stolen from her."

"Berta had been visiting a relative’s home on Saturday, Aug. 24, before she was fatally shot on the street by Oscar Hudson, who later shot and killed himself, police said. The community has lost a woman whose life was stolen from her - as she visited loved ones," the statement continued. "We are saddened and shocked by the manner Berta was murdered."

Oscar, who had a known history of domestic violence, should never have had access to a gun in the first place, Harris continued, saying Rhode Island's gun laws — including new legislation that requires convicted domestic abusers to surrender firearms — failed Berta. According to Harris, domestic violence is five times more likely in a domestic violence situation if a gun is present.

"Berta’s family, friends, and the community deserve to know: How did Oscar have access to a firearm, despite having a domestic violence history? This murder is the fourth domestic violence homicide in Rhode Island this year," Harris said. "Domestic violence robs our fellow Rhode Islanders of their peace and safety, and we must reject this abuse as a community."